During two of his most recent press conferences, Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has made it sound like he’s perfectly fine going into the 2020 NFL season with DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery at wide receiver.
Both players have been entrenched in rumors and innuendo since the 2019 season ended, with Jeffery generating the most buzz surrounding his status going forward with the Eagles.
Then there’s the scenario where the Eagles could trade up to land a wide receiver they covet, stay put at No. 21 and draft the best available player or trade back into the first round to amass more ammunition.
With several scenarios looming as the draft approaches, we play the game of buy or sell on the latest rumors, buzz, and trade scenarios.
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Sell
1. Alshon Jeffery to be traded on draft night
Peter King of NBC’s Football Morning In America released his mock draft and he has Howie Roseman moving on from the talented receiver while landing Henry Ruggs.
Maybe Eagles GM Howie Roseman will find a taker for Alshon Jeffery and his hefty salary (maybe by paying a good chunk of it), or maybe the Eagles have to play with Jeffery and his injury bug for one more season; when he’s on the field he’s effective if not a star. But the thing I heard about the Eagles in the last few days is, Henry Ruggs will not get past 21. So here we are. Ruggs and his 4.27 40-speed are obviously tempting, and 24 touchdowns on only 98 career catches is explosive stuff. But a couple of things make me wonder. Three years, 41 games, 2.4 catches per game, 41.9 receiving yards per game. The most dangerous weapon in your offense gets 42 yards a game? The other side of that is some very smart offensive minds—Sean Payton, Andy Reid—love Ruggs. He’s competitive, and he doesn’t drop many. If he goes to Philadelphia, he’ll be the deep weapon Carson Wentz has imagined with DeSean Jackson.
The 30-year-old Jeffery is coming off of foot surgery and the COVID-19 crisis has prevented any team from getting a look at Alshon’s rehab prognosis.
Add in the $11 million he’s due in guaranteed money and Jeffery appears certain to run it back with the Eagles one more time.
Buy
2. Henry Ruggs firmly in the Eagles eyes
It appears Ruggs could be the guy Roseman covets and the wide receiver has indicated that the Eagles have shown the most interest.
Roseman and the Eagles will likely need to trade up to land the former Crimson Tide star.
Buy
3. Rasul Douglas being shopped
It’s being reported that the Eagles would like to move on from the New Jersey native and the move would save the Eagles $2 million in cap space.
Douglas was a third-round pick of the Eagles in the 2017 draft and has played in 52 games, with 20 starts.
Buy
4. Sidney Jones is safe on the Eagles roster
Jones was considered a trade candidate after the Eagles acquired Darius Slay from the Lions, but the cornerback could be safe, even as the Eagles look to move Rasul Douglas.
The Eagles could save $1.3 million by trading Jones but after an offseason of working out with Chris Harris and other top cornerbacks and the influence of Slay on the roster, Jones should finally have a breakout season.
Sell
5. Eagles to acquire Yannick Ngakoue or Kenny Stills
Ngakoue has been mentioned as a player of interest for the Eagles and although acquiring one of the leagues premier pass rushers could instantly upgrade the Birds defense, it would come at a price that includes a massive new contract.
Stills was also mentioned as a player of interest for the Eagles as the Texans look to continue acquiring draft picks.
